How would you imagine the lifespan of a motor neuron compares to that of an erythrocyte?...

How would you imagine the lifespan of a motor neuron compares to that of an erythrocyte? Explain reasoning. (Hint: Is a nucleus present? Does the cell travel around, squeezing - with much wear and tear - through small capillaries?)

Expert Solution

Ans. The average life span of erythrocytes (RBCs) is 120 days whereas the life span of motor neurons are much longer as compared to erothocytes.

The major roles of erythrocytes are to carry oxygen to different parts of the body due its presence of haemoglobin. Erythrocytes carrying oxygen needs to pass through narrow lumens of small capillaries to reach the required oxygen to different parts. During its movement through very small capillaries, it gets wore and torn. Moreover, due to the absence of nucleus, it has more flexibility and squeezed more to pass through very small capillary lumen besides travelling longer distance inside the body. Carbon dioxide carrying function is also performed by erythrocytes. Such lots of movement causes them ware and tear leading to short life span. On the other hand, the function of motor neuron is singnal transduction. It does not need to move here and there inside the body .It gets confined to their original position without any risk of ware and tare due to travel of long distances through the lumen of capillaries as in case of erythrocytes. Motor neuron are not replaceable, once damaged and dead it can not get back to living state again. Because of these reasons motor neurons have longer life than the erythrocytes.

gladiator answered 2 years ago

how does the motor neuron compare to that of an erythrocyte?

Discuss how each step of an action potential compares between a sensory neuron, interneuron, and motor...

Discuss how each step of an action potential compares between a sensory neuron, interneuron, and motor neuron.

Discuss the concept of an “upper motor neuron” vs a “lower motor neuron”. List all the...

Discuss the concept of an “upper motor neuron” vs a “lower motor neuron”. List all the neurons and their motor system pathways that might be considered upper motor neurons. Describe the consequences of a lesion to an upper motor neuron and a lower motor neuron. This answer should address issues of muscle tone, reflexes, and any other characteristics that help to differentiate between upper and lower motor neuron lesions. Give some common examples (i.e. diseases, dysfunctions, trauma) when these respective...

An increase in action potential frequency of a motor neuron would result in which of the...

An increase in action potential frequency of a motor neuron would result in which of the following (select all that apply): A) Increased Ca2+ in the sarcoplasm. B) Increased influx of Ca2+ ions. C) Increased muscle fiber contraction. D) Decreased activity of AChE. E) Decreased release of ACh.

2. Imagine that you are conducting an experiment that compares the effects of drought on photosynthesis...

2. Imagine that you are conducting an experiment that compares the effects of drought on photosynthesis in two species in the family Ericaceae: Vaccinium parvifolium (red huckleberry) and Vaccinium oxycoccos (small cranberry), both native to Oregon. What methods (name 2) could you use to measure water stress or availability in this experiment? Why might you need to know if these plants have either C3 or C4 photosynthesis? Explain. Design a greenhouse experiment that would allow you to address competition between...

26-31 A reflex arc: includes a sensory neuron includes a motor neuron does not involve the...

26-31 A reflex arc: includes a sensory neuron includes a motor neuron does not involve the brain each of the above is correct The patellar tendon reflex (as done in class): involves a stretch receptor in the quadriceps involves an inhibitory response in the biceps femoris both a. and b. are correct neither a. nor b. is correct Cranial Nerve VIII is the: vestibulocochlear nerve spinal accessory nerve abducens nerve facial nerve The precentral gyrus: sends motor signals to the...

Describe a spinal reflex. In your answer use the following terms: Somatic motor neuron, sensory neuron,...

Describe a spinal reflex. In your answer use the following terms: Somatic motor neuron, sensory neuron, ascending signal, thalmus, sensory cortex.

Explain how graded potentials and action potentials are different. On which part of a neuron would you...

Explain how graded potentials and action potentials are different. On which part of a neuron would you expect a graded potential to occur? An action potential? Explain what an EPSP and IPSP are? How would you generate an IPSP?

Imagine you are working for a Korean company. How you would be able to deal with...

Imagine you are working for a Korean company. How you would be able to deal with the Korean management style, and what would probably be the biggest cultural challenges for you to accommodate to such an environment?

At the peak of an action potential, the membrane potential of a human motor neuron reaches...

At the peak of an action potential, the membrane potential of a human motor neuron reaches about +30mV. What value for “alpha”, the ratio of PNa/PK, allows this to occur. Use an online calculator/simulation to find a value for alpha that approximates what happens to reach this membrane potential, and write out the entire GHK equation (the version with just sodium and potassium) that can produce this membrane potential, including normal ion concentrations and temperature.

Question